Veterinary medicines. Prescriptions 2. Dispensing veterinary medicines 3. Storage of poisons and restricted substances 5

Transcription

1 Veterinary medicines Prescriptions 2 Dispensing veterinary medicines 3 Storage of poisons and restricted substances 5 Labelling and packaging prescriptions 7 1

2 Prescriptions A prescription refers to the instructions a doctor or veterinarian writes for the preparation and use of a medicine. In a veterinary clinic, only a qualified veterinarian is permitted to write a prescription. What should a prescription include? The prescription must include the name, address and telephone number of the veterinary surgeon this may be pre-printed. It must also include the information listed below, written in ink in the veterinary surgeon s legible handwriting, unless otherwise approved. Repeat prescriptions can only be authorised by the veterinarian. 1. The date on which it was written. 2. The name and address of the animal s owner, and the species of animal. 3. The name, strength and quantity of the restricted substance or drug of addiction to be dispensed (in the case of a drug of addiction, the quantity must be written in both words and figures. 4. Adequate directions for use. 5. The number of repeats, if the prescription is to be dispensed more than once. 6. In the case of a prescription for a drug of addiction, an anabolic/androgenic steroidal agent or amylobarbitone or pentobarbitone injection which is directed to be dispensed more than once, the time interval between repeat dispensing. 7. The signature of the veterinary surgeon. 2

3 Dispensing veterinary medicines Dispensing medicines for the treatment of animals should only be done under veterinary direction. When using, scheduling, dispensing and disposing of veterinary chemicals the relevant legislation needs to be considered including: Veterinary Chemicals Act 1994 Veterinary Practice Act 2003 Stock Medicines Act 1989 Poisons Act 1964 Pesticides Act Therapeutic substances: scheduling of drugs Most therapeutic preparations have been given a classification according to the poisons schedule, which determines their conditions of supply and storage. A veterinary surgeon may only supply scheduled substances for use in the course of animal treatment. Therapeutic substances within the clinic are divided broadly into: over-the-counter medications, often displayed in the waiting room may include some s5 and s6 preparations prescription-only, by the veterinarian stored away from public access s4 and s8 under veterinary direction only s2 and s3. Not all medications will have schedule specifications, eg some shampoos and nutritional products. Preparations classified as restricted substances (S4) or drugs of addiction (S8) are available for animal use on veterinary authority only, regardless of whether or not they are registered as stock medicines. An exception to this exists in the case of the emergency supply by pharmacists under strict conditions of benzyl penicillin, including procaine penicillin, in preparations for intramuscular use in animals. 3

4 Important: The label of a product will usually indicate the poisons schedule classification applicable to that product. For example: The label on an S4 drug is headed PRESCRIPTION ONLY MEDICINE or PRESCRIPTION ANIMAL REMEDY An S8 drug, CONTROLLED DRUG S2 or S3 medicines are labelled PHARMACY MEDICINE or PHARMACIST ONLY MEDICINE respectively. 4

5 Storage of poisons and restricted substances Storing veterinary poisons and drugs Substances specified in Schedules 3, 4 and 7 of the Poisons List are to be stored in a part of the premises to which the public does not have access, for example, in a cupboard or drawer in the surgery or in a storeroom, not the waiting room. Schedule 6 poisons eg some parasiticide rinses excluding those packed and labelled for internal use in animals, are required to be stored either: in a place to which the public does not have access, eg a storeroom at least 1.2m above the floor (out of the reach of young children). Over-the-counter medications Before selling over-the-counter medication you need to confirm with clients that it is appropriate for its intended use. Inform them of any special directions or precautions required in its application such as: method of application wearing gloves while applying topical medications such as creams or rinses washing hands after use being in a well-ventilated area (especially when using insecticide sprays) disposal of empty containers and wrapping. Most over-the-counter products have a good back-up from manufacturers, who allow you to contact them to answer any queries that customers may have regarding products. Reading the product information sheets and talking to the various representatives of the different companies helps when you then have to talk to customers about products. Try to keep up with new information and new products, as they become available to the market. 5

6 If in doubt about how medications should be used or what precautions need to be taken, ask your supervisor or the veterinarian. 6

7 Labelling and packaging prescriptions Labels When a veterinary surgeon supplies a restricted substance (S4) or a drug of addiction (S8) to an animal owner, whether in the manufacturer s original pack or repacked into another container, the veterinary surgeon must label the primary container, for example, bottle or carton, with the following details: the words keep out of reach of children in red on a white background the name of the animal s owner and the species of animal adequate directions for use (should be explicit people tend to forget verbal directions) the name and address of the veterinary surgeon in respect of a preparation for external use the word poison or the words for external use in red on a white background the name of the preparation unless it is a preparation compounded in accordance with the veterinary surgeon s own formula. Packaging In most cases, the preparation should be supplied in its original container. Where the veterinary surgeon wishes to supply a smaller quantity and has to repack it into another container, this container should be: sufficiently strong to prevent leakage arising from the ordinary risks of handling, storage or transport securely closed and be capable of being re-closed (other than a preparation packed for use on one occasion only) preferably child proof. Containers such as paper envelopes cannot meet these guidelines and should not be used. 7

8 A poison or restricted substance in liquid form intended for external animal use should be supplied in a container which has the outer surface embossed with the words POISON or the words NOT TO BE TAKEN. In the case of bottles, prominent vertical ribs or other such device should also be used this will make it distinguishable by touch from other containers ordinarily used for foods, internal medicines etc. It is hazardous to use unmarked medicine bottles made of clear glass for poisonous preparations intended for external use. 8

9 9